Archive | Field Experiences

Georgetown University, 3rd Year Pediatrics Resident Kisumu , November 2015. I’m a 3rd year pediatrics resident from Georgetown University, and was fortunate enough to participate in the STEP Program through FACES in Kisumu, Kenya. This was a mixed rotation of research and clinical work. Prior to coming, I joined the Pamoja study, which investigates a […]

4th Year School of Medicine, University of Nairobi Nairobi, 11th July – 30th Sept 2016. HIV is a global phenomenon that affects many in the world. Nowhere is this burden greater felt than in Africa with its many other infectious diseases that still bedevil us. As an immunosuppressing disease, HIV predisposes one to other infections […]

MPH, University of California, Los Angeles Mbita, June 27th – September 7th 2016. This summer, I assisted with the “Understanding Mobility and Risk in Sustainable East African Research in Community Health (SEARCH) Communities” study in Mbita, which is a collaborative study between UCSF, the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), and the Infectious Disease Research Collaboration […]

University of California Berkeley Migori&Suba, 25th May – 6th August 2016 Unlike most STEP participants, I came into FACES without any medical background. I was an undergraduate biology student with an interest in learning more about how to effectively and sustainably work in global health. When I first arrived in Kenya, my primary assignment was […]

St. Maarten School of Medicine Kisumu, July 4th – August 26th 2016. I had no idea what to expect upon my arrival to Kisumu, as this was my first time in Kenya. I was warmly greeted by Catherine, the STEP coordinator and Joelle, another fellow participant and I knew in that moment that everything would […]

UCSF School of Medicine Kisumu, August 2nd – 23rd 2016. Food insecurity and HIV/AIDS remain two of the main causes of mortality and morbidity in Kenya, and are intertwined in a vicious cycle where one predisposes to the other. Over 70% of people living with HIV in Kenya and Uganda are moderately or severely food […]

School of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver Kisumu, June 6th – July 26th 2016. I’m a 2nd year medical school student who came to Kisumu during my summer in between 1st and 2nd year of medical school. My time in Kenya was spend doing research on risk factors associated with late enrolled HIV exposed infants. […]

UCSF, Internal Medicine Resident, Suba/Mbita, April 3rd – 28th 2016. I arrived at Remba clinic to a frenetic scene: fishermen were just arriving on the island in the last week after catches started to pick up. Our boat nudged between five other boats filled with fishermen tossing fish unto the beach. I walked through narrow […]

UCSF, Internal Medicine Resident, Rongo, March 3rd – 25th 2016. The FACES clinic site in Rongo was based in the district hospital grounds making for a unique experience including both outpatient HIV care and exposure to inpatient hospital ward rounds. I also had an opportunity to do some field work with the FACES staff visiting […]

University of Colorado Denver, 4th Year Medical Student Kisumu, Jan 4th – 26th 2016. As a 4th year medical student I was excited to return to Kenya and continue research on prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV. I first came to Kenya in 2013 and worked on data collection for a cohort of infants […]

UCSF, Internal Medicine Resident, Kisumu, April 4th – 29th 2016. Admittedly, prior to my clinical rotation through the FACES clinic at Lumumba Health Centre in Kisumu, my experience in global health was limited. Though I always had an interest in learning about how healthcare was delivered outside of the United States, the opportunity to rotate […]

Rush Medical College,School of Medicine. 4th Year Kisumu, Sept 2015 – April 2016. I arrived in Kisumu didn’t know what to expect. It’s my first time in Kenya and first time in Africa. This trip, just like other medical trips that I’ve taken, cemented my desire to work in improving maternal and child health. As […]

UCSF School of Medicine, 4th Year Kisumu, Jan 19th – Feb 28th. I’m a UCSF 4th year medical student who came to Kisumu for a clinical elective hoping to learn more about medical care in Kenya and sharpen some of my own skills before starting residency. I spent 6 weeks at Lumumba Health Center in […]

Nairobi University, 4th Year MBCHB Nairobi, Oct – Nov 2015. I participated in the STEP clinical elective for 6 weeks at the Nairobi facility and it was quite an experience. When going there, my primary objectives were to understand how ARV therapy is modified based on the patient as well as provision of family planning […]

Nairobi University, 4th Year MBCHB Nairobi, Oct – Nov 2015. Going to the FACES clinic I just had a few objectives to meet:participate in HIV education,counseling,care and treatment and participate in diagnosis and treatment of opportunistic infections.One of my best times in the STEP electives was when preparing for a CME and selecting the best […]

University Of Nairobi, Bachelor of Arts [Sociology, Economics and Tourism] Kisumu, February – April 2015 I joined FACES, Lumumba Health Center as a STEP student in February 2015 for a period of 8weeks working in the social sciences department. My responsibilities were HIV Education, adherences classes, attended defaulter classes, and also worked….

UCSF School of Medicine Kisumu, Sept 2014 – May 2015 This is my second time working at FACES. I worked at FACES initially in 2011 and it was an enlightening experience both medically and personally. I worked on cervical cancer screening needs assessment and had the opportunity to volunteer at the clinic. Under the guidance […]

University of California, San Francisco Kisumu, 5th May – 8th June Western Kenya is beautiful in the rainy season. A deep, lush green blankets rock-strewn hills, hugs the shores of Lake Victoria, and contrasts brilliantly against thick red East African mud. Billowing clouds float lazily across patchwork fields, and a million different birds dart and….

University of California, San Francisco Kisumu, April 25th – June 20th Upon arrival in Kisumu I was met by two enormous, warm smiles belonging to, as I soon learned, Felix and Lillian of FACES. My time in Kisumu has been filled with similar smiles and kindness from all of the staff and researchers here at […]

Angelique Undisa Nairobi, January – February 2015 “Since starting my volunteer work at KEMRI/FACES I have no complains whatsoever, all I have is much appreciation and much thanks to the FACES team. It has been my dream to help others and as I have been placed in this environment I give…..